Hindi
Cinépolis crosses 200-screen landmark in India with Bengaluru multiplex launch
MUMBAI: Mexican multiplex chain Cinépolis has crossed the 200-screen mark in India with the launch of its third property in Bengaluru.
With an aim to have 400 operating screens across India by 2017, Cinépolis is looking at launching 20 more screens in Bengaluru over the next two years.
The new cineplex in Bengaluru’s ETA Namma Mall boasts of complete digital projection and is equipped with three RealD 3D screens, digital sound and the largest legroom. Cinépolis has an exclusive tie-up for the deployment of the 3D technology from Real-D systems in India.
Cinépolis India managing director Javier Sotomayor said, “We are committed to expanding in Bengaluru, one of the fastest growing metros of the country. Apart from the operational properties, we have more than 20 screens planned to go live in the city over the next two years. We are looking for newer malls to expand our footprint and offer the most awe-inspiring cinematic experience to movie-goers in Bengaluru.”
“We identified ETA Namma Mall as the ideal location for our third property in the Garden City. The mall attracts the ideal blend of cosmopolitan customers who look forward to a more-than-average movie-watching experience, which we are in a perfect position to offer. Cinépolis is the fastest growing cinema brand in the country and will continue to foray into existing and newer territories to meet our plan of operating 400 screens in India by 2017,” he added.
With the acquisition of Fun Cinemas from Essel Group, Cinépolis’ screen count in India rose to 193, across 41 multiplexes and 31 cities. After the launch in Bengaluru’s ETA Namma Mall the total number of screens has hit 201.
Cinépolis India business head – strategy Devang Sampat said, “At Cinépolis, our constant endeavour is to deliver unmatched levels of customer service. The technology and experience that patrons will enjoy at the newly-unveiled cineplex will be in perfect synchrony with our brand proposition. We look forward to the continued patronage of Bengaluru residents for this theatre and for the many more than are underway in this highly lucrative geography.”
The multiplex operator currently has a presence in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Surat, Jaipur, Bhopal, Patna, Thane, Vijaywada, Vadodara, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Ambala, Panipat, Ghaziabad, Mangalore, Hubli, Kota, Gwalior, Coimbatore, Khanna, Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Ghaziabad and Ranchi.
Hindi
Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt team up to revive Khal Nayak
Rights acquired for new version, format under wraps as remake plans take shape.
MUMBAI: The villain is back and this time, he’s rewriting his own script. Jio Studios has partnered with Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment to revive the 1993 cult classic Khal Nayak, marking a fresh chapter for one of Bollywood’s most iconic anti-hero stories. The original film, directed by Subhash Ghai under Mukta Arts, was a commercial and cultural milestone, with Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Ballu becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable performances.
Dutt, along with Aksha Kamboj, has now acquired the rights from the original creators, bringing on board Jio Studios and its President Jyoti Deshpande to steer the project creatively.
While the exact format whether remake, sequel, prequel, or a completely new narrative remains undisclosed, the collaboration aims to reinterpret the story for contemporary audiences while retaining the essence that made the original a defining film of the 1990s.
The move taps into a broader industry trend of reviving legacy intellectual property, particularly characters with strong recall value. “Khal Nayak” was notable for pushing mainstream Hindi cinema into morally grey territory at a time when heroes were largely one-dimensional, making Ballu’s character a standout.
The project also marks the film production debut of Aspect Entertainment, signalling a push towards more technology-led storytelling frameworks. Meanwhile, Jio Studios continues to expand its slate, having built a library of over 200 films and series, with more than 60 titles collectively winning 500-plus awards.
For Dutt, the revival is as much personal as it is strategic, a return to a role that reshaped his career. For the industry, it is another sign that nostalgia, when paired with scale, remains a powerful box-office proposition.
Because in Bollywood, some villains never fade, they just wait for the perfect comeback.
